Abstract [en]

Background:”Dementia in the family” is an intervention study where psycho-educative method has been applied aiming to reduce stress for the relatives and reduce psychiatric behavioural symptoms to persons with dementia, carried out in Norway between 2001-2004. The evaluation described below is part is part of “Dementia in the family”study.

Aim: Investigate the relative’s perception of the usefulness of the intervention, and if the effect remained. This was assessed with an evaluation questionnaire. An additional aim was to see how relatives assessed their own stress, burden and general health, and if there were any difference between those who received a short intervention and the control group, which received treatment as usual.

Method: Aquestionnaire with 8 questions and a section for comments was developed and filled in by the relatives after the intervention and 7,5 months later (n=45). Tests measuring relatives stress (RSS), burden (NPI- burden) and experience of general health (GHQ- 30) was performed at baseline, after the intervention and 7,5 month later. Others in the intervention group (n=47) and control group (n=86) scored the same tests. Level of dementia was measured (MMSE), duration of illness, relative’s gender, relation and age was stated for all participants.

Results: The scores from tests showed no significant differences in any of the groups or between the groups. There were small variations in the MMSE score, duration of illness, relative’s gender and age. The questionnaire showed that every relative found the intervention useful and the effect remained. 36 persons filled in on the comments.

Conclusion:Results indicated that the relative’s were stressed, burdened and their general health was suffering. It was concluded that the psycho-educative intervention groups were useful, and that the relatives wanted differentiated groups, follow-up meetings and special groups for the persons with dementia.